Search

Antisera against the trout CNS myelin proteins 36K and IP2 were prepared in rabbits and characterized by immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The anti-36K antiserum exclusively stained its corresponding antigen from trout CNS myelin but failed to recognize any myelin polypeptide from either trout PNS or mammalian CNS and PNS. Antibodies against the IP2 glycoprotein specifically cross-reacted with related intermediate proteins (IP) of both CNS and PNS myelin from trout but only faintly labeled the PO protein of mouse peripheral nerve. Immunohistochemical localization of both antigens in the CNS of young trout was confined to the myelin sheath, except that anti-36K antiserum also stained oligodendrocytes. Nodes of Ranvier, neuronal cell bodies, and dendrites, as well as other glial elements, were negative. Specificity of the immunofluorescent reaction was established by crossed immunoadsorption experiments. Whereas on adjacent sections through trout brain both antigens exhibited a nearly identical distribution pattern, immunostaining in peripheral nerves was seen only with anti-IP2 antibodies.

When soluble proteins in cytosolic fractions of rat soleus muscles are 32P-phosphorylated in vitro by an ATP:protein phosphotransferase reaction, the major substrate is a 56-kilodalton (56K) protein. As we have also reported previously, the onset and development of increased 32P-phosphorylation of this 56K protein, which are observed after the soleus is denervated, temporally correlate with the denervation period and length of the distal nerve stump [Held et al, 1983]. Conclusive evidence which identifies this neuroregulated muscle protein as the regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type II (R-II) is presented in this paper. The 56K soleus protein and purified bovine heart R-II were 32P-phosphorylated and subjected to limited proteolysis with bovine pancreas trypsin. After resolution of the generated 32P-phosphopeptides by SDS slab PAGE and visualization by autoradiography, no tryptic products were observed from the 56K soleus protein which were not also produced by proteolysis of the purified R-II. These tryptic phosphopeptides included 39, 16.5, and 12K fragments which retained the autophosphorylation site of R-II. After denervation, the 32P-phosphorylation of the 56K soleus protein and of the 39K tryptic peptide product were comparably increased. The identification of the neuroregulated 56K soleus protein as R-II was also confirmed by Western blotting with a specific anti-R-II sera. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the previously observed neuroregulation of the 32P-phosphorylation of the 56K soleus protein is identifiable with some alteration which affects the intramolecular 32P-autophosphorylation of R-II.